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The
Language
1. Characterisation and Name
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- Molise
Slavic is a minority language with Italian as the dominant language.
- The
closest genetically related language is Croatian, due to the Dalmatian
origin of the one-time immigrants, hence the terms "Molise
Croatian, Italo-Croatian" along with "Slavic (slavo,
schiavone), Molise Slavic" and the neologism "Slavisian".
- Among the
inhabitants of Acquaviva, the language is simply referred to as na jezik
'our language', in the adverbial usage kjikjarijat na-našu 'speak
in our manner'.
- The
inhabitants of Acquaviva, Montemitro and San Felice refer to each
village respectively as na grad 'our village'. While Acquaviva is known
as Kruč in the other communities, the
Slavic terms for the two remaining villages are respectively Mundimitar
and Filič.
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2. Status of the Language
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- In spite
of a few attempts at creating an own literature, which started in the
19th century, Molise Slavic still must be seen as a language which is
only spoken without written norms.
- The
dialectal differences between the three villages are not insignificant
despite the characteristic similarities at all language levels. A
standardisation on the basis of the language use in Acquaviva can be
seen in the first large dictionary of Molise Slavic (Dizionario croato molisano), which has
been compiled at the Chair for Slavic Linguistics of the University of
Constance.
- In
Acquaviva the Slavic minority language has currently started to obtain
an official status, for since the municipal statute was changed a few
years ago, it can now be spoken at meetings of the town council, etc.
Its lacking development and the language habits caused by previous
restrictions and bans provide, however, for the absolute dominance of
Italian in the administration, church, and school.
- When
dealing with Croatian visitors, a few intellectuals use a language form
which has adopted some elements of standard Croatian.
- Regardless
of first small attempts, there are no regular Slavic language classes
(in whatever variety of the language).
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